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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND JONES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WVILLIAM .I. GLEASON, OF SAME PLACE.

COINACTUATED RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,215, dated June 11, 1889.

Application filed March 15,1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND O. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, and the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ooin-Actu-' ated Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to opera-glass receptacles for places of amusement, that are constructed and arranged to furnish a glass for use during the entertainment to the occupant of a seat upon the deposit of a coin in the receptacle, the introduction of the coin through a slit giving access to the inside for removing the glass.

The improvements that constitute the present invention consist in certain novel construction of a holder or receptacle, revolving shutter, and operating mechanism which is set in motion and caused to move the shutter through the medium of the coin inserted through the slit of the device, all as hereinafter fully described.

The 'nature of these improvements and the manner in which I have constructed and applied the same for operation in carrying out my invention are fully explained in the following description, in which reference is made by figures and letters to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents my improved receptacle in front elevation, with portions broken away to show the internal construction. Fig. 2 shows the receptacle opened by the operation of a coin that is introduced through the slit provided for the purpose. Fig. 3 is a seetiontaken vertically through the center, and Fig. 4 is a section taken horizontally through the case at a point below the rest or shelf.

A is the case of the receptacle, and B a shelf or partition dividing the interior space into the receptacle X, to hold the opera-glass, and the compartment Y beneath, to contain the coin-actuated mechanism.

0 is a hinged door of semicircular shape, conforming to the circular shape of that portion of the case to which it is fitted, and arranged to cover the front of the compartment Y. This door aifords access to the case for removing the deposited coin and for adjust- Serial No. 303,468. (No model.)

ing and setting the mechanism. It is secured by a suitable locking device to prevent it being opened except by authorized persons.

D is a revolving shutter arranged to turn on a center pivot E, and having an opening or cut-away portion corresponding in size and shape with the front of the receptacle X and also the solid portion on the opposite side of the pivot E. The revolution of the shutter for one hundred and eighty degrees or one-half around brings either the opening or the solid portion in front of the receptacle.

F is a cord attached to the rim of the shutter at a point f, and extending around the rim from that point to a sheave G, placed in the bottom of the compartment Y, by which the cord is turned in line with the passage running through the case and the pedestal or stand on which the case is mounted. This support I is hollow, and the base is provided with a suitable flange or broad foot, in which are screw-holes for fastening it down firmly to the floor. In the present construction this support is formed of a tube fixed into the socket A on the bottom of the case and secured in the base-plate I at the lower. end. 7 The cord is carried down into this tube and is attached to the weight H. Between the point f on the shutter-disk and the sheave G the cord lies in a groove d, provided for it around one-half of the rim or edge of the disk.

K is a short lever playing vertically on a center 76* at the back part of the case near the bottom, and extending to the front under the rim of the shutter, where a stop-pin L on the rim is fixed to engage the lever. The position of this pin is about opposite to the point f, where the cord is attached to the shutter.

K is a cup fixed on the lever K in line with the end of an inclined trough M, that is secured to one side of the case and extends toward the center below the partition B as a means for holding a ball-weight W above the cup.

N is a gate formed of the bent end of a lever N and setting across the open end of the trough to hold the ball in place, from which point the lever extends to the side of the case, where it is connected with the pivot end of a tripping-lever P. This lever is arranged to be depressed by the weight of the coin,which is inserted through the slit to in the top of the case, and at the outer end is provided with the pan 1), that corresponds in length with the aperture in the end of the coin-tube R. A light spring P holds up this end of the lever and serves to restore it to position after the coin has dropped into the bottom of the case, the lever N following the movements of the tripping-lever, and thus being set to place by the same spring. The tube R forms a close chute from the coin-slit at the top of the case down to the compartment beneath the partition, where its lower end sets closely to the pan on the tripping-lever, said chute being made of a flattened tube or a strip of sheet metal. suitably bent and fastened against the back of the case.

The lever that locks the revolving shutter is held to place by a spring S, the strength of which is less than the force derived from the falling ball. when it is released from the trough above and strikes the lever, so that when the gate N is drawn away from the front of the trough the ball will operate to depress the lever and release the shutter.

As thus constructed, this receptacle is fixed in convenient position and the shutter is turned to close the front opening after the glass is placed inside, and is moved around 011 its pivot until the stop-pin L is caught by the lever K. Access to the mechanism inside is then had through the door of the lower part of the case, and the ball W is placed in the trough. The introduction of a coin of given denomination through the slit provided in the case will give access to the upper compartment X by the movement of the trippinglever, which is depressed by the coin and sets free the ball. The operation of the falling ball to release the shutter and of the weight and cord to revolve this part will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and illustrations.

Instead of an opera-glass, other articles may be placed in a receptacle of this kind, and in all cases of use where the articlesuch as an opera-glassis of greater value than the coin to be deposited a chain or strong wire cord is used to attach the glass to the case in such manner that while the glass may be taken out and conveniently handled by the person near the case it cannot be carried away through carelessness or dishonesty. This connection is attached to an eye T, fixed inside the case and fastened by suitable means to the glass, there being sufficient room in the compartment to take the connecting chain or cord and the glass.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a suitable case having the compartments X Y, the revolving shutter-disk composed of a solid portion, and an aperture in the part that is on the opposite side of the pivot to said solid portion of suitable size to afford access to the compartment X when brought in line therewith, the cord and weight as a means of turning said disk on its pivot to bring said aperture into position, a locking-lever arranged to hold the disk against the action of the weight, and mechanism adapted to be actuated by the weight of a coin of given denomination to move said locking-lever and release the shutter-disk, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the case A, provided with the compartments X Y, the pivoted shutter-disk having an aperture of semicir cular shape on one side of its pivot to correspond with the compartment X and afford access thereto, and a solid portion to close the front of said compartment when turned across such portion of the case, the weight and cord G H, locking-lever K, adapted to engage and hold the shutter-disk, the coinchute, tripping-lever, ball-trough, gate-lever, and springs P S, applied to return the lever K to position, substantially as herein described, for operation as set forth.

3. The herein-described receptacle for opera-glasses, consisting of the case A, mounted 011 the pedestal and containing compartment X for the glass and compartment Y for the mechanism, the coin slit and chute delivering into the lower compartment, the revolving shutter-disk D, Weight and cord G II, locking-lever K, tripping-lever, ball-holding trough, gate-actuating lever, and springs, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a suitable receptacle to receive an opera-glass for use at the chair or seat in a place of amusement and adapted to be fixed in position convenient thereto, a revolving shutter arranged to close the opening in the said receptacle, through which the glass may be removed or by its revolution to uncover said opening, the weight and cord as a means of moving said revolving shutter, a locking-lever holding said shutter closed across the opening, suitable mechanism arranged to be set in motion by the weight of a coin introduced into the receptacle, and through the action thereof to move the locking-lever and release the shutter, and a chain or cord attached to the glass and to the said receptacle, substantially as herein described, for operation as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

EDMUND C. JONES.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. OSBORN, LEE D. CRAIG.

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